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Two Putti Supporting a Torch

A work made of terracotta on slate.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of terracotta on slate.

Date:

1650/1700

Artist:

Flemish

About this artwork

In this terracotta sculpture, a pouting putto and his companion flank an elaborate candelabra with a lit torch. The surfaces of the fleshy baby bodies and architectural elements retain the striations and marks of the sculptor’s tools, an indication that this work was not a finished product. Artists considered terracotta, a type of ceramic characterized by its reddish-brown color, an ideal medium for models. Such models served as guides for their assistants to begin the final version, in this case likely an element of a larger sculptural ensemble.

Status

On View, Gallery 208

Department

Painting and Sculpture of Europe

Title

Two Putti Supporting a Torch

Place

Netherlands (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1620–1640

Medium

Terracotta on slate

Dimensions

35.2 × 27.9 × 7.3 cm (13 7/8 × 11 × 2 7/8 in.)

Credit Line

Through prior purchase with funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. John Golitz; through prior bequest of Hans G. Cahen

Reference Number

1987.2

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/93280/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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